possibility

UK /ˌpɒs.ɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ US /ˌpɑ.səˈbɪl.ə.ti/

noun 4

Definitions

noun

The quality of being possible.

'There is little possibility of that happening' 'I'd say there's rather a strongish possibility that it won't.

A thing possible; that which may take place or come into being.

Since the launch early last year of […] two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations. University brands built in some cases over centuries have been forced to contemplate the possibility that information technology will rapidly make their existing business model obsolete.

An option or choice, usually used in context with future events.

Mycelial lives are so other, their possibilities so strange.

Capability, power or capacity to act.

VVere Iacke Strawe a liue againe, And I in as good poſſibility as euer I was, I would lay a ſurer trumpe, Ere I would loſe ſo faire a tricke.

Collocations

(noun.)

ADJ

exciting, interesting

endless, many

There are many possibilities for what we could cook for dinner tonight.

further, other

different, various

future

distinct, great, real, serious, strong

There is a real possibility that we might need to reschedule the meeting next week.

reasonable

faint, remote

There is a remote possibility that the flight could be cancelled due to bad weather.

practical

theoretical

obvious

VERB + POSSIBILITY

allow sb, offer sb, open up, raise

see

consider, discuss, examine, explore, study

The team discussed the possibility of working from home two days a week.

accept, acknowledge, admit, concede, countenance, entertain, recognize

ignore, overlook

deny, discount, dismiss, eliminate, exclude, preclude, rule out

The police did not dismiss the possibility that the witness had misidentified the suspect.

face

After the accident, the family had to face the possibility of a long recovery period.

risk

There's a chance we might risk the possibility of arriving late if we don't leave soon.

allow for, cover

The new safety rules allow for the possibility that workers might need extra training.

avert

lessen, reduce

PREP

~ for

There are many possibilities for improving the school's sports facilities next year.

~ of

There is always a possibility of rain during the summer months here.

PHRASES

beyond/within the bounds of possibility

It's within the bounds of possibility that we might find a cheaper apartment in this neighborhood.

a number/range of possibilities

When choosing a university, students have a number of possibilities to consider.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — a possible alternative

opening

noun — a tentative insight into the natural world

noun — capability of existing or happening or being true

possibleness

Antonyms

impossibility
impossibleness

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

'There is little possibility of that happening' 'I'd say there's rather a strongish possibility that it won't.

Wiktionary

Mycelial lives are so other, their possibilities so strange.

Wiktionary

But the possibility seems unlikely.

Tatoeba · #1440

We are haunted by an ideal life, and it is because we have within us the beginning and the possibility for it.

Tatoeba · #2270

The chairman did not rule out the possibility of a disagreement.

Tatoeba · #20004

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, possibility is marked as obsolete. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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